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73 


Tennessee State 
Numismatic 
Society 




(1 


VISIT US AT OUR NEXT SHOW 

Nov 2 - 4, 2018 

Hours Fri & Sat 10AM-6PM 
Sun 10AM-3PM 




Visit us at: 


www.tsns.or 














TSNS President’s Message for November 2018 


I hope that everyone had a great summer. For those of you who live in 
the Carolina’s, 1 pray that all of you came through Hurricane Florence 
unscathed. From what 1 could see on TV, the worst of the damage was 
along the coast line and just west of 1-95 and in some cases a little more 
to the west. God Bless all of those who suffered, lost their homes and 
more importantly, the families of those who lost their lives. 1 would also 
like to mention that we lost a long-time dealer, Matt DeRoma.Matt passed 
away this past August and I am thankful that 1 was blessed to visit with 
him at ANA in Philadelphia a week before his passing. He and his wife 
Betsy have always been very kind friends to my wife and I and to so 
many other dealers around the country. He will be missed by many. 

Well it is now time to think about the Tennessee State Numismatic 
Society’s show the first weekend of November. As of this writing, we are 
a little down in dealers and have lost some to the Silver Dollar Show in 
St. Louis. Not to worry, 1 get phone calls and emails several times a week 
asking if there is space available. 1 pass these request on to Ron Black¬ 
man and he has done a great job in filling in the vacant spaces. 

Our goal is to have one of the finest shows in the southeast. It takes 
hard work, but it also takes better than good advertisement. We need 
great advertising! Not only great advertising on social media, but word of 
mouth. Tell your friends, family, in-laws and out-laws to come and par¬ 
ticipate at the show. The board of directors has some thoughts and plans 
for the future TSNS shows which should make us a much better show. 

If anyone has any ideas to help TSNS in any way, please contact me 
or any of the members of the board. We are here to serve you - our deal¬ 
ers and patrons. 1 hope to see all of you in November at Camp Jordan 
Area in East Ridge, TN. 

Very Best Regards, 

Bob Hurst 


2 





★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ 

★ Charles Cataldo, Jr. ★ 

★ Alabama Coin & * 

★ Silver ★ 

X 256-536-0262, £ 

★ 900 Bob Wallace Ave. SW ★ 

★ Ste 122 ★ 

★ Huntsville, AL 35801 * 

★ ★ 
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★A*** 


John Parker, Middle Tennessee 
Coin, Inc. 

201 East Main St., Suite 450 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130 
615-896-5102 


TSNS OFFICERS AND BOARD OF GOVERNORS 

President: Bob Hurst 

(2020) Email: forvm@comcast.net 

1st VP: Charles Cataldo 

(2020) Email: alcoinsil@bellsouth.net 

2nd VP: Richard Hickman 

(2020) Email: amercoin@comcast.net 

Secretary/Treasurer: 

Amy Kubicek 

Email: TSNSdues@gmail.com 

Historian Curator: 

Sharon Blackman 

Email: sharonb4291@gmail.com 

Parliamentarian: Wayne Weaver Email: Glenda scb@bellsouth.net 

Ron Blackman 

Governors 2020 

Email: rblackman@cfl.rr.com 

Jim Lusk 

Email: govlusk@tsns.org 

Wayne Weaver 

Email: Glenda scb@bellsouth.net 

Phil Darby 

Governors 2022 

Email: phil.darby@comcast.net 

Steve Ellsworth 

Email: buttemut@buttemut.org 

Bruce Paulhamus 

Email: southempmx@gmail.com 

Bourse Chairman: Bob Hurst Email: forvm@comcast.net 

Exhibit Chairman: 

Wayne Weaver 

Email: Glenda scb@bellsouth.net 

Bourse Security: 

Glenda & Wayne Weaver 

Phil Email: Glenda scb@bellsouth.net 

TennCoin News Editor & Webmaster: 

Ron Blackman 

Email: rblackman@cfl.rr.com 

Past President: Jim Ford Ph: 423-902-3164 


3 











★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ 

* IN MEMORY LEWIS REVELS ★ 

★ ★ 

★ ★ 

★ Lewis Revels, Jr., 71, Rossville, passed away peacefully on Mon- ★ 

J day, June 18, 2018, surrounded by his family. * 


if He was bom May 18, 1947 to the late Lewis Revels Sr. and Mar- if 

* garet Hargraves. Mr. Revels grew up in the Rossville area and was a * 

* member of Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church. Lewis was ★ 

* a graduate of Rossville High School, class of 1965 and graduated * 

* from UTC with an engineering degree and a Master’s Degree from ★ 

* UTK. He started his career by collecting coins and was the owner of * 

* Chattanooga Coin, Inc., Choo Choo Rentals, Inc., and the Chatta- ★ 
if nooga Coin Wholesaler, Inc. Lewis was a numismatist and an entre- + 

* preneur. He was selfless and always thinking of others and always * 
if giving back to the surrounding communities. Lewis was a mentor to if 

* many and if you knew him, you knew he never met a stranger. He * 

* was the rock of his family and they loved him dearly. ★ 

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ 


From the Editor’s Desk 

I am always looking for ARTICLES to be used in the Newsletter so if 
you have any that you would like to share just let me know. 

If you have any suggestions or recommendation for the Newsletter 
just let me know either call (321-258-0325) or 
email rblackman@cfl.rr.com. 

If you can attend any local coin shows in your area please do. This 
will be worthwhile and by getting to know the dealers that would be a 
greater benefit. 

As always be safe and aware of your surroundings when you are trav¬ 
eling to and from a show. 

Take care. Ron Blackman 





r *. 

J IN MEMORY OF MATT DeROMA 



★ 

J On Wednesday, August 22, 2018, Matthew T. 

★ DeRoma, 73, of Somers, lost his long battle 

★ with COPD which he had bravely fought for 
A more than 20 years. He left the arms of his lov- 

★ ing wife to rest in the arms of our Lord and Sav- 

★ ior Jesus Christ, where he will never again 
if know pain and where he is loved, redeemed and 
A pure. Matt was a faithful communicant of All 
if Saints Church, a member of the Somers Lions 

A Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a true family 
if man and found great joy in cooking large meals for family gatherings 
£ and reunions. As a selfless person, he was always looking to provide 
if for others. Matt is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Betsy 
£ (Webb) DeRoma, of Somers, his three children, Kim Rago and her hus- 

★ band, Jeff of Shelton, Matt DeRoma and his wife, Cynthia of Somers, 

★ and Rob DeRoma and his wife, Pilar of Ridgefield and ten grandchil- 

★ dren, Gabby, Sean, and Sammy Rago, Sabrina, Christopher, Natalie, 

J and Matt DeRoma, and Max, Julia, and Lucas DeRoma. He also leaves 

★ two brothers-in-law, Randy Webb and his wife, Robyn, and Tim Webb 
£ and his wife, Nancy, a sister-in-law, Sally Nolen and her husband, 

A Cephus, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved as though they, 

J too, were his children. Although Matt was an only child he also leaves 
A many cousins who were to him brothers and sisters. The family would 
J like to thank the ECHN Palliative Care Unit, especially his nurse, Lisa 
A Albert, for the special care that she continuously gave him. They would A 

^ 1 1 11 _ ^ 1 _ ! _ 1 aA 1_ ^ _ FA n 7 ! 11 ! r» _ 11' ^ 


if also like to extend a special thank you to Dr. William Preskenis and his 
A staff, especially Jenna, for all of their help, care and concern. Relatives 
if and friends are invited to join the family for calling hours on Tuesday, 
A August 28, 2018 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Somers Funeral Home, 354 
•k Main St., Somers, CT 06071. A procession will gather at the funeral 
£ home on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 10:00 am. A Mass of Chris¬ 
'S- tian Burial will be held at 11:00 am at All Saints Church, 25 School St., 
^ Somersville, CT 06072. Burial will be held at the convenience of the 

★ family. Donations in memory of Matt may be made to St. Jude Chil- 

★ dren's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to 

★ March of Dimes Foundation, Donation Processing Center, P.O. Box 
i 673667, Marietta, GA 30006. 



A Brief History of Templeton Reid: First Private Minter 
By A1 Adams 

Word of Benjamin Parks’ discovery of gold in North Georgia spread 
like wildfire, and by 1830 our nation’s first major gold rush was on. 
Miners flocked to the mines near Gainesville, Georgia. New towns like 
Auraria and Dahlonega seemingly popped up overnight. 

Few miners found gold in vast quantities, but many found enough to 
inspire them to stay and dig for more, selling their gold dust, chips and 
flakes to merchants for supplies. The difficulty in determining the purity 
and quantity of gold led to much disenchantment among miners who 
were never really certain they were receiving a fair trade. The remote¬ 
ness of Georgia made it time consuming and expensive for miners to 
ship their gold to the Philadelphia Mint and pre-minted coins were in 
short supply. Some estimates indicate that there was less than one feder¬ 
ally minted coin per person in the United States. In the late summer of 
1830, Templeton Reid, a Milledgeville blacksmith, moved to Gainesville 
and setup the nation’s first private mint under the Constitution. 


Templeton Reid was a man who appeared very good with his hands. 
He was a skilled mechanic and watchmaker, blacksmith, gunsmith, sil¬ 
versmith and jeweler. In 1824 he was advertising "rifles of a very supe¬ 
rior order priced from one to five hundred dollars and barrels fifty dol¬ 
lars." 

On July 24th, 1830, an article ran in the Southern Recorder announc¬ 
ing that Reid was coining $2.50, $5.00, and $10.00 gold pieces stamped 
with "Georgia Gold 1830" on one side and “Templeton Reid, Assayer” 
and the denomination on the other side. See images below. 



Templeton Reid: 
$2.50 

Images courtesy of 
Bob Harwell 


Continued page 7 


6 



A Brief History of Templeton Reid: First Private Minter (Continued) 

Just 23 days later, an anonymous author who referred to himself as 
"No Assayer" attacked Reid’s credibility. In an letter to the editor, pub¬ 
lished on August 16, 1830 "No Assayer" claimed to have had a Reid 
$10.00 coin assayed at the Philadelphia Mint, who reported a value of 
only $9.38. Whether or not this is accurate is the subject of debate. At the 
time, 23 days would be a very fast turn around to ship a coin to the mint, 
have it assayed, and the results returned prior to press time. Additionally, 
no mint records of a Reid coin being assayed in that year are known to 
exist, although tests performed by the mint several years later did reach a 
similar conclusion, although there was some variation. Reid responded 
in full force, defending his product, and his profit margins. The confusing 
explanation did not convince the public. In a later response, "No Assayer" 
continued to attack Reid’s profits by saying that "this business is better 
than gold digging." He attacked Reid’s professional ability and challenged 
that individuals should not have the private right to coin. Finally, "No As¬ 
sayer" claimed that some banks were not accepting the Reid coins at face 
value. The claim that ha nk s were not honoring Reid coins scared the pub¬ 
lic who could not themselves determine the purity of the gold. 

In the end, it appears Templeton Reid also lacked the equipment and 
chemical sophistication to properly assay gold to the exact fineness for 
coinage. In 1842, the Philadelphia Mint tested his coins and found that 
they contained more gold than the face value indicated. They were .942 
fine, the highest quality of any other non-government coin. Some rumors 
exist that the coins were even counterfeited, but in any case, most likely 
ended up being melted. 1 

Reports circulated that speculated Reid would make over $15,000 a 
year, although with the short production time and the startup costs, it is 
doubtful that Reid ever turned a profit. Reid quietly moved on to making 
cotton gins. He is reported to have spent some months in California where 
a $10 and $25 piece were tested, however commercial production never 
ensued. 

It is now believed that only 1400-1600 coins were ever produced and that 
most were melted at the mint in 1831. The $25 California specimen was 
stolen from the Philadelphia Mint in 1858. Today, Templeton Reid coins 
are very rare and highly sought after, with some specimens being sold for 
more than $25,000. The largest sale of Templeton Reid coins was three- 
coin finest-known set from the Dukes Creek Collection which recently 
sold for $1.2 million. 


7 


COINS, CURRENCY AND OTHER HISTORY EVENTS 


y French national lottery completes funding for Statue of Lib¬ 
erty, commemorated on various US Coins. 


Bureau of Engraving and Printing releases last $10,000 
Federal Reserve notes. 


Disneyland, Walt Disney's metropolis of nostalgia, fantasy, 
and futurism opens. The $17 million theme park was built 
on 160 acres of former orange groves in Anaheim, Califor¬ 
nia, and soon brought in staggering profits. 


y Missing Willis DuPont 1804 Draped Bust dollar reappears 
at AN ACS in Colorado Springs, Colorado for certification. 


Reno Evening Gazette reports the suspension of Trade dol¬ 
lar coinage at the San Francisco Mint except for those coins 
intended for export. 




28 Jul 
1876 


11 Aug 
1966 


9 Aug 
958 


24 Aug 
1814 


28 Aug 
1792 



The Camaro makes its debut; The first Chevy Camaro 
drove out of the manufacturing plant in Norwood, Ohio, on 
this day in 1966. HOW MANY REMEMBER THIS 
DATE AND CAR? 


Congress authorizes gold medal for Vice Admiral Flyman 
Rickover (known as the father of the atomic submarine) 


British bum Main Treasure Building in Washington, DC, 
during War of 1812. 


Bank of the US agrees to accept notes of Ba nk of South 
Carolina. 


England adopts Gregorian calendar; Sept 3, 1752, advanc¬ 
ing the calendar by 11 days. 


22 Sept 
1835 


Benjamin Towns of Athens, Ga., contract to build the Dah- 
lonega Mint for $33,450. 


























What’s Happening 


October 6, Coin Show. Rothchild Conference Center, 8807 King- 
2018 ston Pike. Knoxville, TN (PH: 865-660-8692) Email: 

beavercreekcoins (3bellsouth.net 


October 5-7, North Carolina Numismatic Association 60th Anniver- 
2018 sary Coin Show Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 

Highway 49 North, Concord, NC 28025 PH: 919-656- 
3265. PH: 919-656-3265. Web Site: 
www.ncnaonline.org 


November 2- Tennessee State Numismatic Society (TSNS) . Fall Coin 
4, 2018 Show. Camp Jordan Arena, Chattanooga, TN 1-75, Exit 

1. (PH: 321-427-6474). Email: forvm@comcast.net 


November 10, Coin Show. Rothchild Conference Center, 8807 King- 
2018 ston Pike. Knoxville, TN (PH: 865-660-8692) Email: 

beavercreekcoins@bellsouth.net 


December 1, Coin Show. Rothchild Conference Center, 8807 King- 
2018 ston Pike. Knoxville, TN (PH: 865-660-8692) Email: 

beavercreekcoins@bellsouth.net 


December 7- Gallatin Coin & Currency Show, 210 Albert Gallatin 
8,2018 Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066 Tommy Davidson, PH 615- 

405-9192 


December Rare Coins of Raleigh Coin & Currency Show 
15-16,2018 Shanna Millis rarecoinsofraleigh@gmail.com 

919-790-8544 Web site: www.rarecoinsoffaleigh.com 

NEW LOCATION 

HILTON GARDEN INN 1016 Jacksonville Parkway, 
Jacksonville, NC 


If you are aware of local shows that are not listed contact Ron 
Blackman Email: rblackman@cfl.rr.com and provide information 
needed Visit website: www.TSNS.org for a more up to date list of 
shows. 


9 



















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SHOP 


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EMAIL: ACOINANDSILVERSHOPf/pGMAlL.COM 




10 



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RARE COINS 



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Buyers of all 

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Items 


PERSONAL INVESTMENT COUNSELING 
FOR THE 

NUMISMATIC INVESTOR/COLLECTOR 

MICHAEL GONZALEZ 


Professional 

Numismatist 


M K Precious Metals, LLC 

Email: mike@mkpreciousmetalsllc.com 
Cell: 423 991 6982 

PO Box 1510 Ringgold, GA 30736 



11 










If you attend the 
upcoming TSNS 
Show, plan on at¬ 
tending the General 
Membership Meet¬ 
ing that is schedule 
for 3:00 PM on Sat¬ 
urday 


a 

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Support 

TennCoin Adver¬ 

tisers. 

They Support llsi 

The ads are 
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newsletter. 


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Let SEGS Be Yc 





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Serving The Col 


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Your Personal Numismatist 



Grading . Attributions . Authentication . Pre-Screen 
Civil War Tokens . Store Card Tokens. Hard Times Tokens 
Foreign . Ancients . Full Step Counts . Signature Labels 
And Much More... 


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Call today fervour Free Submittal Package! 

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Phone: 423.510.8311 Fax: 423.510.8312 
www.segscoins.com 


iggs Rare Coins 


Collector, Investor, and Dealer Since 1953 


ilmost every type and denomination of coin, 
rror and variety (RPMS. RPDS, MPDS, VAMS, 

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13 














What Are the Best Half Dollars of the Last Century? 

By Mark Benvenuto 


A person may or may not like collecting coins that have been encap¬ 
sulated or slabbed by some third party grading service. Some detractors 
claim it puts their coins out of reach behind plastic, while others take jabs 
at the grades assigned by the various companies. But most collectors 
recognize that a coin with a grade of MS-67 for example, is more univer¬ 
sally accepted in a third party holder than it would be if someone simply 
scribbled that grade on a cardboard 2x2 holder. And while a person 
claim that does not matter for a coin they own, knowing the precise grade 
matters quite a bit when it comes time to sell. For that reason, when one 
thinks of assembling a short collection of some of the best half dollars 
possible, it is often wise to go for coins that are indeed slabbed. With 
that in mind, here then is a list of some absolutely fantastic slabbed half 
dollars that have been issued in the last century. 

The 1964 Kennedy half, in PF-67 or higher 
The fine folks working at the Mint in 1964 probably never imagined 
they were going to produce a one-year type coin when they were making 
the 90% silver Kennedy halves of 1964. Yet that is what the change in 


alloy in 1965 effectively 
produced. Good news for 
collectors today is that a 
high end specimen of this 
first Kennedy half in a 
proof form can cost as little 
$50. That’s a great price 
for a great coin. 



The 1963 Franklin half, in PF-67 or higher 

The tail end year of the short-lived Fra nk lin 
half dollar series saw a proof mintage of just 
above 3 million. Thus, this coin too does not cost 
all that much in a grade like PF-67. A person 
could land one for less than $100. One can only 
imagine finding a PF-68, and the joy of owning 
one of the best of the best. 

Continued page 15 



14 



What Are the Best Half Dollars of the Last Century? 

The 1957 Franklin half, in PF-67 or higher 

This was the first year of what gets 
called the common proof sets, be¬ 
cause those sets were made to a 
tally of more than 1 million. Buy¬ 
ing a 1957 Fra nk lin today means 
you will be purchasing one tht was 
broken out of a set—but that does¬ 
n’t make it any less valuable a 
coin. And the price for such a 
half? Well, it might be a pleasant surprise to find that $200 will land one of 
these proofs in the high grade we have mentioned, which is impressive for 
a coin pushing 60 years old. 

The 1950 Franklin half, in MS-65 or higher 
Even though the Fra nk lin half dollar had been produced as early as 1948, it 
was 1950 that kicked off the proof 
sets, after a seven-year hiatus. 

Only 51,386 of the sets were made 
that year, making this a much less 
common proof fifty-cent piece than 
any which would come after it. 

That in turn means prices closer to 
$500 - and that may be the line 
some of us choose not to cross 
when it comes to a single coin purchase. But what a gorgeous, scarce 
piece a person can land. This earliest proof Fra nk lin half is definitely a 
coin worth adding to a growing collection. And this is one of which we 
definitely have to reiterate: buy the slabbed coin! This is simply too much 
to spend on a purchase that might or might not later turn out to be an MS- 
65 (or a much less valuable MS-64 or MS-63). 

The 1942 Walking Liberty half, in any PF grade 
Whenever we move back from 
the Franklins to the Walking 
Liberty halves, we expect the 
prices to rise, at least if we stay 
with the same grades. In part it 
is the apparently constant collec¬ 
tor love affair with this series. 

In part it’s that there are simply 
less of them still in great shape. 



Continued page 16 





15 




The 1936 Walking Liberty half, in MS-64 (Continued) 


But no matter the difficulties, when it comes to landing a 1942 Walker as a 
proof coin, it can still be done for about $500. The trick is finding one in 
the first place, and one that still has serious eye appeal. 


This is the first of the modem proof set halves, and so this is something 
of a holy grail when it comes to proof coinage. It is also a very expensive 
proof coin - but not necessarily 
a screamingly expensive mint 
state coin. That’s why we’ve 
shifted from a PF to an MS 
grade, and why we’ve dropped 
the bar down to an MS-64. 

That gets us back down to 
something like a $ 100 expendi¬ 
ture, and doesn’t really com¬ 
promise on the eye appeal of the coin. 



Any Barber half, in any high-end circulated grade 

The Barber series does go back beyond the century mark we mention, but 
since it straddles it, it’s worth adding one to this growing set of highly at¬ 
tractive fifty-cent pieces. Dropping out of the mint state grades entirely, 
and looking instead for something that qualifies as an AU coin will keep 
any sticker shock at bay 
when we first go searching 
for such pieces. The com¬ 
mon date Barber halves can 
be found for about $350 - 
$400 when it comes to an AU 
-50 or even AU-55 grade. 

And there is still a good deal 
of eye appeal in such big, 
silver coins. 



Others? 

There are certainly plenty of other gorgeous half dollars out there, both 
within the series we have just touched on, as well as in the older series. 
How one builds such a collection, and in what direction one takes it is defi¬ 
nitely an individual choice. But we’ve seen that there are some pretty 
amazing coins still out there for quite reasonable prices. Enjoy putting to¬ 
gether a half dollar collection of you own. 


16 



An Ancient Roman Coin with a Christian Connection 

by Bill Groom 

Among this month’s raffle prizes is a Roman bronze coin, issued by 
Constantius 11 who reigned from 337- 361 A.D. The coin’s obverse 
bears his likeness, and the reverse displays “Two Victories” or warriors 
facing one another. The detail on this tiny coin appears quite strong 
after over 1,650 years. It was possibly stored in a clay pot for many 
centuries before some archaeologist found it. One can only speculate 
about such things. 

According to Wikipedia, Constantius was bom in 317 at Simiium, 
Pannonia (modem day Serbia). He was the third son of Constantine the 
Great. He was made Caesar, imperial ruler, by his father on November 
13, 324. When his father died at Constantinople in 337, Constantius 11 
was the nearest of his sons to that city. Family feuding in the form of a 
massace followed. Constantius 11 and two of his brothers, Constantine 
II and Constans, divided the empire. Constantius II commanded the 
eastern provinces, including Egypt, Syria, Thrace and Asia Minor. 



Continued page 18 


17 


An Ancient Roman Coin with a Christian Connection 
(Continued) 


Constantius II took a particular interest in the religious state of the Roman 
Empire. He promoted Christianity over paganism, the worship of many 
gods. While he did not force Christianity upon his subjects, Constantius II 
issued many edicts that helped Christianity take root in the empire. He 
banned sacrifices, closed pagan temples and issued edicts against soothsay¬ 
ers and magicians who pursued mystical worship. Christian clergy were 
exempted from performing public service and paying taxes. Overall, Con¬ 
stantius II seems to have taken a position of compromise in tolerating pa¬ 
ganism while promoting Christianity and moderation within the church at 
large. 

Constantius II enjoyed a relatively long rule of twenty-four years. There 
were many conflicts throughout his tenure. He was married three times, 
having been twice widowed. His only child was a daughter, Flavia, bom in 
360 A.D. to his third wife, Faustina. Flavia later married Emperor Gratian 

In 361 A.D., Constantius was engaged in military conflict with a relative, 
Julian, whom he had previously promoted to the ra nk of Caesar. On No¬ 
vember 3 of that year, Constantius died of a fever. He decreed that Julian 
would succeed him. 

Obviously, there’s a great deal of history behind this tiny coin; evident, if 
one takes the time and makes the effort to turn some pages Wonder who 
will take this one home? 


Your advertisement in the TSNS Newsletter would look great here!!!!Our Advertising Rates: 

1/4 Page 

$40 (4 issues) 

$15 single issue 

1/2 Page 

$60 (4 issues) 

$25 single issue 

Full Page 

$100 (4 issues) 

$35 single issue 

Inside Cover Page (if available) 

$150 (4 issues) 


Contact Ron Blackman 

Email: Rblackman@cfl.rr.com PH: 321-258-0325 


18 






DALTON I 

$ 

GOLD Sc SILVER EXCHANGE $ 


Specializing in £ 

PREMIUM QUALITY CERTIFIED U.S. COINS | 

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(Certified, GSA’s and Redfields) $ 


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BUYING 

ALL COINS & CURRENCY 
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#11 

Grant Campbell ® 

ANA Life Member LM-5193 ffl 


BRNA LM 2076 


Located in Dalton for 18 years in the 
Historical Bank of Dalton building built in 1916 
(later Fidelity Federal Bank) - next door to the old Post Office. 

Call Grant Campbell (706) 226-3504 
to schedule a date and time 

Web Site: www.DaltonGoldSilver.com 
Email: dgse@daltongoldsilver.com 


108 South Hamilton St OlANGC 


AUTHORIZED DEA1-ER 


Dalton, GA 30720 


AUTHORIZED DEALER 




19 












A Mercury Cent ? 

by Bill Groom 


Most coin collectors are familiar with the so-called “Mercury” dime. 
This design is more properly called a “Liberty Head” dime. Lady Lib¬ 
erty, wearing a Phrygian cap, has long symbolized freedom from slavery; 
this basic design having been used on many, early U.S. coins and those of 
other nations, too. The dime’s designer, Adolph A. Weinman, created 
the winged head to emphasize freedom of thought. When the new dime 
first appeared in 1916, many folks began confusing the representation of 
Liberty with the Roman god, Mercury, a mythical messenger who had 
wings attached to his feet. Classic Greek and Roman mythology was 
then a common school subject. 



The above Civil War token die, dated 1863, was designed and signed 
( LUTZ) by Frederick W. Lutz, an engraver employed by a die sinking 
firm in Cincinnati. Lutz, bom in 1836 in Baden, Germany, first ap¬ 
peared in Cincinnati city directories in 1860. He was one of many skilled 
artisans who emigrated to the United States in the nineteenth century. 
Lutz issued one rare, personal Civil War token, upon which he described 
himself as an artist. Lutz’s employer, William K. Lanphear, was located 
at various addresses on West Fourth Street in Cincinnati. Lanphear, a 
prolific maker of tokens, employed other engravers as well. 

A skilled, twentieth century engraver like Weinman was likely famil¬ 
iar with many of the designs used on Civil War tokens. Might his rendi¬ 
tion of Liberty been influenced by the Lutz design? The similarity is 
striking ... pun intended! Both figures face in the same direction and are 
underscored by a date. Both artists signed their work, too. Other 
“Mercury head” dies, similar to this Lutz design, were used on many va¬ 
rieties of Civil War tokens; mostly, on store cards that advertised prod¬ 
ucts and services in various states. The widespread circulation of these 
tokens increases the likelihood that Weinman saw one or more of these 
Civil War era store cards in his travels, his studies, while pursuing his 
career as an engraver. What say you? 


20 





A Transitional Year for U.S. Coins .... 1916 

By Bill Groom 

Throughout the 200+ years of U.S. coins being issued, there are many 
examples of more than one type appearing in a single year. A type coin is 
one that usually illustrates a significant change in design. For example, 
there were Indian and Lincoln cents struck in 1909. Then too, there were 
both Shield and Liberty Head nickels struck in 1883. Many more examples 
of this phenomenon exist, and they would make an interesting collection in 
their own right. The coins pictured below exemplify some of the design 
changes that occurred in 1916, and these coins are among the prizes that 
will appear in this month’s raffle. 



Whereas the production of the Barber or Liberty Head halves ceased in 
1915, both the quarter and dime designs were minted in 1916. That year, 
the so-called Mercury or winged head Liberty dimes and the walking Lib¬ 
erty half dollar design entered circulation. 

At the time these coins entered circulation, America, under the leader¬ 
ship of President Woodrow Wilson, was trying to remain neutral as World 
War 1 was raging in Europe; then, since 1914. In 1915, a German subma¬ 
rine, U-boat, sunk the British ocean liner Lusitania, aboard which were 
over a hundred Americans. Thereafter, Germany agreed to a moratorium 
on sinking passenger ships; this, given the condition that America would 
remain neutral. Following Germany’s attacks on a number of American 
merchant ships in early 1917, Congress declared war in April of that year. 

The rest is history, and these coins are now, in effect, historic markers 
of that era ... 


21 


Borrowed Money Trading 


Craig Warren 

Owner - Numismatist 

We Buy & Sell - Gold & Silver, Coins & US Paper Money, 
Collections and Estates 

719 N. Delaware Town Rd 
Nixa, MO 65714 

417-832-0669 


Georgia Numismatic Association 
55th Anniversary 

Coin Show 


Aori! 12- 14. 2019 

Fri. / Sat lO AM - 6 PM Sun. 10 AM - 3 PM 

Best & Largest State Show in Georgia 

Educational Forums, Grading, Exhibits, Young Collectors Program 

Tom Youngblood, Show Manager 
Tom.Youngblood@att.net 
770-815-4042 

Chip Cutcliff, Bourse Manager 
Chascoins06@yahoo.com 
770-639-0190 

Contact Bourse Mgr for Table or Waiting List 

More info - visit/ www.gamonev.ora 

Future Show: Apri I 12-14, 201 9 

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! 


Dalton Convention Center 

Dalton, Georgia - 1-75 Exit 333 (follow signs) 



22 











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404 - 630-1861 

Gold Rush Gallery, Inc. 

P.O. Box 38 - Dahlonega, Georgia 30533 
(404) 630-1861 - Fax: (706) 867-0516 
Info@GoldRushGallery.com 
www.GoldRushGallery.com 


Meet Al Adams at many shows nationwide. 

Current Inventory and Show Schedule On-line at www.GoldRushGallery.com